Odd Tidbits Digest

Iran's Ban on Valentines Day

Hard line religious leaders in Iran have instituted a production ban on Valentines cards and gift in the Middle Eastern country. Because the day is largely commercial in nature and reflects Western habits, the powers that be have condemned its celebration. According to British publishing house Reuters, Valentine's Day has become increasingly popular among the Iranian youth. Seventy percent of people are under 30 and have no memory of the 1979 Islamic revolution which toppled the U.S.-backed Shah.

Monk Detained Transporting Nun's Skeleton

The baggage of a Cypriot monk caught the eye of Greek airport officials as security staff discovered a skull wrapped in cloth and other skeletal remains. During the course of investigation, the monk explained that he was merely transporting the remains of a saint to its rightly place at his monastery. Unbeknown to his supervisor, the archbishop, he claims she in fact was a saint yet declared. The remains were those of a nun who died four years ago. She was not a saint in the Greek or Cypriot Orthodox Churches, but had once been a nun at a Cypriot convent, police said. Ultimately, he was charged with theft and desecrating the dead, a misdemeanor in Greece. He was also suspended from his monastic duties for three months for going away without leave, Cypriot police said.

Careful with that Neck Massager

A 37-year-old Florida doctor died before Christmas after taking a break from wrapping presents and using her electric neck massager. Apparently, Michelle Ferrari-Gegerson had the device snatch her necklace and was unable to stop it before it strangled her. According to police, her husband found her lying unconscious on the bedroom floor in their home in the Fort Lauderdale suburb of Parkland and called paramedics, who pronounced her dead. Investigators believe the massager got tangled on her necklace and tightened it around her neck, causing her to lose consciousness and stop breathing.

Play Ball, if You're Healthy

The average Major League Baseball players salary comes to about $3.3 million. Here are some who spent time on the disabled list in 2010 for odd reasons: Kendry Morales, Los Angels Angels, who broke his leg jumping on home plate after hitting a home run; Brian Roberts, baltimore Orioles, who was out a week with a concussion when he smacked himself in the head with his bat after striking out; Chris Coghlan, Miami Marlins, who needed knee surgery after giving a teammate a playful post-game shaving-cream pie; and Geoff Blum, Houston Astros, who needed elbow surgery after straining his arm putting on his shirt.